Spiking is set to become a separate criminal offence later this year. As part of the Crime and Policing Bill, it will become a crime to administer a harmful substance to another “with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy,” but the Government has faced criticism that the new law does not go far enough. Joe Robertson, Member of Parliament for Isle of Wight East, has been leading a national campaign to ensure that all forms of this dangerous and growing problem are outlawed.
Spiking is often associated with putting drugs in someone else’s drink for sexual purposes or to aid a theft. Seventy-four per cent of victims are women, with an average age of 26. Joe Robertson sat on the Crime and Policing Bill Committee, where he heard evidence from Spike Aware UK founder, Colin Mackie who spoke about a new, dangerous wave of “prank spiking”, where people put drugs in drinks “for fun” and without an apparent or obvious motive. Joe Robertson says that the new law has a glaring loophole because it does not cover reckless acts associated with prank spiking.
Joe Robertson MP said, “I tabled an amendment to the Government’s Bill last week to ensure that all forms of spiking become a criminal offence, not just situations where there is a clear motivation or intent. Much like dangerous driving, if your actions are so reckless a reasonable person would know that someone might get hurt, the law should apply to you.”
Unusually for a backbench amendment, Mr Robertson’s proposal was selected by the Speaker for a separate debate and vote in the House of Commons. 189 MPs voted in favour, including all MPs present for the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, DUP and Plaid Cymru. Labour MPs were whipped to vote against it, so the amendment fell. But Mr Robertson says he is not giving up.
“Working together with Colin and Mandy Mackie, we will be taking the issue to the House of Lords, where the Government doesn’t have a majority. If just one perpetrator walks free arguing lack of intent because of a badly worded law, it will be a travesty. I am determined not to let that happen.”
